Pool Water Too Warm?
Traditionally one of the solutions to dealing with the
heat is the cool enjoyment that a swimming pool can
provide. That has not been the case as of lately. Pool
water can get very warm during the peak summer
months. Couple this with the popularity of a dark pool
surface. Many pool owners are experiencing water
temperatures that are uncomfortable to swim in
because the water is too warm.
What is the desired temperature for swimmers?
Most swimmers like water in the range of 80-90
degrees, with temperatures below 80 and above 90
being considered uncomfortable. With the water
temperatures in many full-sun pools now reaching
mid 90’s, pool owners are looking for ways to lower
the temperature of the water.
Following are some methods that have been used
to lower the temperature of their pool water:
Fountains & waterfalls—
Fountains and waterfalls lower the water temperature.
As the water action that is created by fountains and
waterfalls causes evaporation, the pool water becomes
cooler. This also tends to cause more water loss due to
the evaporation process. Operating the fountain or
waterfall at night is most effective as the air temperature
is cooler. If your pool is not equipped with a fountain or
waterfall, aftermarket fountains are available that attach
to the swimming pool returns.
Ice— Ice can also be used to cool a pool, but it is not
really a practical method of cooling down the water
temperature. It takes an excessive amount of ice and the
change is only temporary. According to an article in the
Wall Street Journal, it would take 8,750 lbs of ice to
lower the water temperature of a 20,000 gallon pool by
ten degrees. These numbers are fairly consistent with
research done by Mythbusters—so you can see that ice
is not a sensible method of cooling the water
Drain & refill—A partial drain and refill of your pool
water is another option, depending on your water
source. This method definitely works, especially if your
water source is coming from a well (well water is
typically much cooler than surface water). Denton and
most other large municipalities in the north Texas area
depend on surface water (lake water) as opposed to well
water. Most water sources for pools outside of these
municipalities are well water, making this option
something to consider. One factor to consider before
implementing this strategy is that you will have to
rebalance your water chemistry, which could result in
additional costs.
Shade the pool—Although it will not help you this year,
consider planting some trees around the pool, especially
on the west side. But remember, if you choose deciduous
trees, you will be cleaning leaves out of the pool in the
fall.
Reversible heat pumps—Reversible heat pumps will
either heat or cool pool water with the flip of a switch.
Although they are fairly expensive and consume a
considerable amount of power to operate, they are
effective when it comes to cooling pool water.
Not testing and treating the pool water on a regular
basis—Proper water chemistry is always important, but
when we are experiencing excess heat, there is little
room for error. Test and treat your pool water on a
regular basis to prevent problems like algae and cloudy
water.
Inadequate pump run timesDuring the winter, pump run times are not as critical as
they are in the summer. Although all pools are different,
most residential pool pumps should be running at least
8-12 hours per day. Remember, if you have a salt
chlorination system, the system is not producing
chlorine unless your pump is operating.
Using proven methods to keep your pool water cool
and paying attention to routine pool maintenance will
assure that you enjoy your pool throughout “the great
heat wave of 2015”!
Evaporative coolers—Evaporative coolers use
evaporation to lower the temperature of your pool
water. They are considerably less costly to purchase
and operate than a heat pump, but they are not capable
of being used as a heater in the winter as a heat pump is.
As you can see, there are quite a few options
available for lowering the temperature of your pool
water, some more practical than others.
Another consideration as we continue through
increasingly hot summers, is that this hot weather can
create problems for swimming pools, even when a
routine swimming pool maintenance program is
followed. The two biggest problems that we are seeing
are:
909 Dallas Drive • Denton, TX 76205
www.gohlkepools.com